Caught by his brother
The chair wasnât always in use.
Most days, his brother moved around on his ownâslowly, carefully, sometimes with a limp that came and went like bad weather. But on âoff days,â as he called them, everything changed. His legs wouldnât cooperate, the fatigue hit harder, and the chair became essential. Not optional. Not symbolic. Necessary.
He knew that.
At least, in theory.
Still, the chair had always carried a different kind of pull for him. Something about the design, the quiet power, the presence. Heâd never really separated that feeling from what it actually meant for his brotherâuntil the day he got caught.
It started the same way: empty house, quiet room, curiosity creeping in.
He slid into the seat, hand finding the joystick like it belonged there. The chair hummed to life, smooth and responsive. He leaned back, relaxed, letting himself enjoy it.
Then, almost automatically, he added the cigaretteâlike it completed the image in his head. Calm, composed, untouchable. He caught his reflection and smirked.
âYeah⊠this works.â
The door clicked.
He didnât flinch this time. Just turned his head slowly, cigarette still in place.
His brother stood there, taking it in. The chair. The posture. The smoke.
ââŠSeriously?â he said.
âJust trying it out,â he replied, cool as ever.
âWith a cigarette?â
âAdds character.â
There was a pauseâbut instead of anger, something else settled in his brotherâs face. Tired, maybe. Thoughtful.
âYou want to know what itâs like?â he asked.
ââŠYeah.â
âThen I want something too.â
He raised an eyebrow. âWhat?â
A glance at the cigarette. âLet me try one.â
He blinked. That wasnât what he expected.
âYou? Really?â
âIf you get to step into my world for a minute,â his brother said, âI get to step into yours.â
It didnât feel like an even trade. Not even close. But that was the point, wasnât it?
He hesitated, then handed it over. âAlright. But donât expect magic.â
His brother tried itâawkwardly, coughed, laughed a little. âYeah⊠not as cool as it looks.â
âExactly,â he said, leaning back in the chair.
âNow,â his brother added, handing it back, âdo it properly.â
So he did.
No posing this time. Just listening. Learning how sensitive the controls were, how much awareness it took. How it wasnât about looking relaxedâit was about staying in control.
A little later, they stepped outside.
The park wasnât far. The path opened up under the trees, wide enough to move freely. He eased the chair forward, slower now, more deliberate.
âMost days, I donât need it,â his brother said as they walked. âBut on days when I do⊠itâs the difference between being stuck and actually going out.â
He nodded, eyes forward. âHow often?â
His brother shrugged. âDepends. Sometimes once a week. Sometimes more. Sometimes not for a while. You never really know.â
That unpredictability hung in the air for a moment.
He guided the chair along the path, feeling the subtle shifts in the ground, adjusting without thinking too hard about it. It wasnât effortless anymoreâbut it was starting to make sense.
A couple of people passed by. He felt their glance, then let it go.
ââŠI used to think this was justâŠâ he gestured lightly, ââŠI donât know. A vibe.â
His brother gave a short laugh. âYeah. I figured.â
He smirked a little, but it didnât have the same edge. âIt kind of is. But not in the way I thought.â
They reached an open stretch.
âGo a bit faster,â his brother said.
He didnât argue this timeâjust pushed the joystick forward slightly. The chair picked up speed, smooth and controlled. The air shifted, the ground flowing under him.
For a second, he felt that old âcoolâ feeling againâbut now it was mixed with something else. Awareness. Respect.
He slowed near a bend, taking it cleanly.
âBetter,â his brother said.
âYeah,â he replied quietly.
They stopped near a bench.
After a moment, he turned the chair back and rolled toward him, stopping close.
âYour turn,â he said, stepping out carefully.
He settled into the chair againâthis time with a bit more intentionâand rested his hand on the joystick.
âAlright,â his brother said, standing beside him. âSlow at first. You donât need to prove anything.â
He smirked slightly. âI always look like Iâm proving something.â
âYeah,â his brother replied dryly, âthatâs the problem.â
He nudged the joystick forward.
The chair rolled onto the pavement, smooth as ever, but now there was more to think aboutâcurbs, uneven tiles, the slight slope of the road. It wasnât just âcoolâ anymore. It required attention.
They reached the park entrance, a wide path opening up between trees. He relaxed a little, letting the chair glide forward at a steady pace.
ââŠOkay,â he admitted after a minute, âthis is actually kind of nice.â
âTold you,â his brother said. âItâs freedomâbut youâve got to stay sharp.â
He tested a gentle turn, then another. The responsiveness felt different out here, more real somehow. He leaned back slightly, finding that balance againâthat calm, controlled feelingâbut without the careless edge from before.
A couple of people passed by. He felt it immediatelyâthe awareness of being seen. Earlier, he mightâve leaned into that, played it up. Now, he just kept it steady.
âFeels different when people are around,â he said quietly.
âYeah,â his brother replied. âYou get used to it. Or you learn to ignore it.â
They reached a wider open patch of the park, and his brother gestured ahead. âGo on. A bit faster. Just donât floor it.â
He grinned. âYou say that like I wasnât thinking it already.â
He pushed the joystick a little more.
The chair picked up speedânot fast, but enough to feel it. The ground moved under him, the wind just barely brushing his face. For a moment, he forgot everything else.
âOkayâthis part,â he said, âthis is actually really good.â
His brother laughed. âYeah. Until you misjudge a turn.â
As if on cue, he approached a bend a little too confidently, then corrected quickly. The chair responded, but it took focus.
âAlright,â he said, easing back, âmessage received.â
They slowed to a stop near a bench. He rested his hands, looking out over the park.
âNo cigarette this time?â his brother asked.
He shook his head. âNah. Doesnât fit the moment.â
That earned him a small nod.
After a pause, he looked down at the controls, then back up. âI get it now. Not completelyâbut more than before.â
His brother sat down on the bench. âThatâs all I wanted.â
He sat there a bit longer, then carefully turned the chair back toward him.
âYour ride,â he said, stepping out once they were close enough.
But before handing it over fully, he gave the side of the chair a light tap, almost like acknowledging it.
ââŠStill cool,â he added, a faint grin returning.
His brother smirked. âYeah.â
Then he climbed back inâlike it actually belonged there.
And this time, when they headed home, he walked beside him instead of sitting in his place.













